Commuting - How about a luggage box on your commuter?

Recently, in my travels to Japan and China, I have seen a lot of electric bicycles. They are really becoming popular there. Even though the price is about the same as a gas powered scooter, Beijing, for example, has outlawed gas powered scooters, so electric bicyles are filling the need.

ANYWAY, one of the neat things that is a standard option on many of these electric bicycles is a tidy little luggage box that fits on the tail of the luggage rack. They look snazzy and practical.

Have a look at the attached picture of an electric bicycle. If you could get one of the circled luggage boxes, would you use it on your commuter? The size is about 18"W X 16"L X 12" H = 457mm X 406mm X 304 mm.

I thought they were pretty neat. They have a big reflector on the back too.

When needed I utalize a "trunk" on the rack. It has been a great way to carry a minimum of stuff, with velcro straps it comes off, and a zipper allows me to expand it if need be.
But a "hard shell" case might keep out the weather. I just don't want to junk up the lines of my ride. I've come to appreciate minimualism(sp) riding a fixed gear, carrying very little as it is on my back in a messenger bag. I ride the commuter with full panniers once a week to take fresh dudes to work and the dirty stuff home, that way I am free to ride to and from work unencumbered by a load. Then taking that right turn and adding 7-8 more miles to the commute isn't that big a deal.

Looks ok. What's the $$$ range?

Originally posted by Raiyn
Looks ok. What's the $$$ range?

I can get them for about $35.00, but I saw them advertised by a USA bicycle + parts supplier for $169.00.

WHat would you be willing to pay?

i personally am more happy with panniers and backpack... and i have to admit that although i don't usually care too much how things look, i find the box on the back often looks a little awkward.

a good friend of mine fashioned a light-weight hard-shell waterproof box to the back of the rack on his commuter and then he would use like a gym-bag for clothes and throw this and his lunch and whatever else into the trunk. he made a padlock for it so he could lock it up although highly safe it was not as someone could bust it open, but he could leave clothes or non-valuables in it...

Many years ago, maybe the mid-80's, Rhode Gear made a similar hard plastic lockable trunk box for your rack. I believe it was called the "Shuttle". It never caught on.

Dave

I have changed jobs and am commuting by bike for the first time since 1997.
I have been looking for a lockable hardsided rack trunk all summer.
I had one in the past, just the thing for keeping your tire, tube and other stuff together rather than carry them into every store or coffee shop you visit.
I gave mine away, thinking if I ever needed another i could buy one.
Mine was about 12" long by 6" wide by 6" tall. Room enough for everything I needed (jacket, spares, lock, shades, light) without being heavy, bulky or noisy.
I'd love to get another.
Tell me about the ones you can get.
I have seen the photos of the ones from Boulder (I forget the name) and they look to be really large, and likely heavy and noisy.

Lantalum

I was just thinking today that I'd like a lockable cage for the back of my bike, for stuff that I lug around but would rather leave with the bike. I have two reasons for preferring a cage: first, that way the crackheads can see that the stuff I'm carrying is worthless junk, and won't try to break in just to see what I've got. Second, with a trunk here in DC I'd be concerned that Homeland Security would blow up my bike if I parked it anywhere for any length of time. Any ideas where to get such a thing?

Mike,

Check out the Cargo Cache by Otivia. Not cheap at about $100.
http://www.otivia.com/cargocache.htm

They might be available through moped or scooter dealers.

Ron

If these things are like the 'trunk' on my moto they're friggin' heavy for bicycle use. Not to mention the fact that a locked compartment on a bike just screams "Try it punk!". If you wana go whole hog on the issue you could look at a Pelican case and bolt it down.

I've been thinking of making one out of an old 12-pack container. Basically just fiberglass over the thing & shazam! its a waterproof box. Of course, the lid is a separate issue. Hinging the lid would be nice.

I have been thinking of buying a plastic tool box and bolting it to the rear rack, these usually have provisions for a padlock. My reason is to securely lock my tools, tube etc. which I now keep in a seat bag. Every day I remove my seat bag because I cannot lock it so the hard case with a padlock would save me some time.

otivia.com

lockable trunk that can fit a laptop and a helmet. Made of the same plastic as the car roof-top boxes and a good lock. The mounting hardware works from inside so it's locked to your rack, and if you run a seat cable through your seat/ frame and to the hardware it would take wrenches and a cable cutter to get it off.

About $100 bucks

otivia.com

lockable trunk that can fit a laptop and a helmet. Made of the same plastic as the car roof-top boxes and a good lock. The mounting hardware works from inside so it's locked to your rack, and if you run a seat cable through your seat/ frame and to the hardware it would take wrenches and a cable cutter to get it off.

About $100 bucks

Anyone actually used this and panniers too? Looks like it would not allow mounting panniers to your rack, I email the mfgr, got no response.

Anyone actually used this and panniers too? Looks like it would not allow mounting panniers to your rack, I email the mfgr, got no response.

I'd like to know that myself as a lockable trunk would be SO perfect.

I'm working in a college town and there's a lot of cyclists. One thing that's popular enough that even the snobby race bike shopps all carry them are the fold out wire basket panniers.
Only thing i was thinking is that one more square of the same wire mesh over the top could be easily padlocked in place. Stuff would be exposed to the elements but secured. And a plastic garbage bag is always good camo.

I'm working in a college town and there's a lot of cyclists. One thing that's popular enough that even the snobby race bike shopps all carry them are the fold out wire basket panniers.
Only thing i was thinking is that one more square of the same wire mesh over the top could be easily padlocked in place. Stuff would be exposed to the elements but secured. And a plastic garbage bag is always good camo.

do you have a picture of the baskets? the dimensions?
haven't seen any here in jakarta.

Hmm, y'know, plastic toolboxes or penguin cases are waterproof, and might be easy to hook up. Interesting idea. The toolbox would be great with a quick release because it's got a handle on top, and you can buy toolboxes very cheap.

Ortlieb also offers a hard case locking trunk called the Shuttle. With their attachment system you can still attach panniers.

US$14.95 Trunk Bag (http://www.supergo.com/profile.cfm?lProd_id=26285&lmfg_id=&searchtext=quest&referpage=)

(works great, carries LOTS of stuff, and is cheap enuf fer me)

:-)

I have seen a couple of guys around here bolt old suitcases to their rear carriers. These are the 1960's/1970's smallish suitcases that bee-hiver ladies used to carry hair dryers and stuff. Color choices still come in olive and mustard yellow.

Line the insides with shag carpet and be the envy of your jet-set friends.